Is AI Stealing Christmas? How Robots Are Taking Over Advertising
The Main Idea in a Nutshell
- Big companies like Coca-Cola are switching to Artificial Intelligence to create their commercials because it is much faster and cheaper, even though it worries artists and sometimes looks a little weird.
The Key Takeaways
- The AI Takeover: For decades, ads were made by creative teams filming real actors, but now major brands like Coke are using AI to generate video clips without cameras or actors.
- Speed and Money: The main reason companies love this is efficiency; what used to take a year of planning and filming can now be done in just a month.
- The "Creepy" Factor: Early AI ads had issues with the "uncanny valley"—a term for when something looks almost human but fake enough to be scary. Coke’s new ad uses animals instead of people to avoid this, but it still has glitches.
- Fun Facts & Key Numbers: It’s catching on fast! According to the text, almost 1/3 of all online video ads have already been touched by AI. Also, for Coke's recent campaign, just 5 AI specialists were able to generate over 70,000 video clips to choose from.
Important Quotes, Explained
Quote: "> Coca-Cola is red because it's made from the blood of out-of-work artists."
- What it Means: This is a very intense way of saying that by using computers to make art, Coca-Cola is hurting real artists, animators, and actors who are losing their jobs to machines.
- Why it Matters: It highlights the intense anger and fear people in the creative industry feel about AI taking away their livelihoods.
Quote: "> You still need the big idea... that's not yet something a computer can necessarily come up with."
- What it Means: Computers are great at doing the heavy lifting (making the video), but they are bad at being original. You still need a human brain to come up with a cool, funny, or emotional concept first.
- Why it Matters: This suggests that while technical jobs might disappear, "idea" jobs are safe for now because AI mostly just copies what has been done before.
The Main Arguments (The 'Why')
- Here is why companies are rushing to use AI in their commercials:
- First, it saves massive amounts of time. The text explains that traditional filming takes months of planning, travel, and shooting, while AI can generate content in weeks.
- Next, it pleases the investors. Using high-tech tools makes a company look futuristic and smart to the people who invest money in the stock market.
- Finally, most viewers don't seem to mind. Despite online complaints about "soulless" ads, the text notes that general audiences still gave the AI ads high ratings. If regular people don't notice the difference, companies will keep doing it.
- Here is why companies are rushing to use AI in their commercials:
Questions to Make You Think
- Q: Does the AI actually do a good job making the commercials look real?
A: It's getting better, but it's not perfect. The text mentions that last year's ad had "unnatural" smiling faces that creeped people out. This year, the ad looks better because they removed the humans, but if you look closely, there are still mistakes—like the wheels on the trucks changing shape and number as they drive.
Q: Is every company doing this, or are some refusing to use AI?
- A: While many are jumping on the bandwagon, some brands are fighting back. The text mentions an underwear brand called Aerie that issued a statement promising "no AI-generated bodies," focusing on being authentic and real instead.
Why This Matters & What's Next
- Why You Should Care: You see hundreds of ads on social media and TV every week. Understanding how they are made helps you spot what is real and what is fake. Plus, if you are interested in a career in art, film, or design, this technology is completely changing what those jobs will look like by the time you graduate.
- Learn More: Search YouTube for "Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming AI ad" and compare it to the original 1995 version. Can you spot the glitchy truck wheels mentioned in the text?